Spotlight on a Young Researcher: Nelson Noumbissi from the French National Center for Meteorological Research
Meet Nelson Noumbissi, a research engineer at the French National Center for Meteorological Research (CNRM). Within I4C, he is mainly involved in Work Package 6, and played a key role in organising the inaugural I4C Adaptalab event, held in Paris at the end of 2023.
What do you do on Impetus4Change? Is it the first project you’ve worked on?
In I4C, I am mainly involved in the WP6, specifically in the co-construction of the Paris urban climate service demonstrator. I was also part of the organizing team for the first I4C Adaptalab that took place in Paris at the end of 2023. In the past, I have had the opportunity to work on several projects, but I4C is the first European project I have been involved in with such frequent interactions with researchers from other countries.
What is the most interesting thing you learned so far working on Impetus4Change?
If I had to mention just one interesting thing, it would be statistical emulators: how they work and how much they revolutionize climate modeling. Statistical emulators are data-driven models that are used to approximate quickly and with reasonable accuracy the outputs of complex climate models.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are you working on?
Alongside my current I4C work, I am also working on a thesis project set to begin this autumn, focusing on African climate services. If all goes well, in 5 years, I envision myself in a post-doctoral position somewhere in the world.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was younger, I was already interested in the sky: the alternation of day and night, rain and sunshine. I wanted to do any job that would bring me closer to the sky. Today, I work in the field of atmospheric sciences, so I must say I haven’t done too badly.
Who is your science idol? Someone you wish you could have a conversation with (from the past or contemporary).
I don’t really have a “science idol” per se. But if I could have tea with any scientist, I think I would invite Isaac Newton to find out if the legend of the apple is true.
Which Impetus4Change research outcome are you most excited to learn about ?
I am eagerly awaiting the results of the statistical emulators set to come out.
Have you read any interesting books/articles recently that really made you think?
I recently read “The Human Bug” (subtitle: Why our brain drives us to destroy the planet and how to stop it), an essay by French author Sébastien Bohler. He demonstrates how the programming of our brain not only pushes us towards immediate gratifications (food, sex, power, information) but also encourages us to want more and to avoid behaviors that would frustrate us because they would limit our desires.
If Impetus4Change held a party, which song would you request from the DJ?
I’d probably request “Pedro” (the remix) by Jaxomy and Agatino Romero.